Machine for crimping wire



A. H. JOHNSON. MACHINE FOR CRIMPING WIRE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN- 21, I920.

1,345,445. 4 Patented J ly 6,1920.

5 SHEETS-SHEET I.

I gvwwntoz I JIjer/ZJMIMM A. H. JOHNSON.

MACHINE FOR CRIMPING 'wmE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 21-, 1920,

1,345,445. Patented July 6, 1920,

5 SHEETSSHEET 2.

Snvcnfoz A. H. JOHNSON.

MACHINE FOR CRIMPING WIRE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 21. 1920.

Patented July 6, 1920.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

A. H. JOHNSON.

mcn'ma FOR CRIMPING WIRE.

APPLICATION. FJLED JAN. 2|, 1920.

1,345,445. ratenmuuly 6,1920.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

' .llerl/ZJ/Mun A. H, JOHNSON. MACHINE FOR CRIMPING Wl-RE.

APPLICATIQN FILED 1AN.21. I920. V 1

Patented July 6, 1920;

5 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

'IIONAL ELECTRICAL SUPPLY COMPANY, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT 0F 00- LUMBIA, A CORPORATION OF VIRGINIA.

MACHINE FQR CRIMPING -WIRE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

- Patented uly 6,1920.

Application filed January 21, 1920. Serial No. 352,994.

To all whom it may concern: 1

lie it known that I, ALBERT H. JOHNSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Washington, in the District of Columbia, have invented certain new and useful I m provements .in Machines for Crimping W1re, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to machines for crimping wire, and it comprises a source of supply, meansfor holding the wire to be crimped, means for progressively feeding the wire. through the machine as i it is crimped, means for bending the wire alternately to each side of said holding means to crimp the wire, and operating means to supply oscillating motion to said wire bending means, and intermittent rotary motion to said wire feeding means, all as more fully hereinafter set. forth, and as claimed.

In crimping wire, it is necessary to provide means for feeding the wire to the machine, intermittentlyythe wire is fed into position to form a crimp or loop, the feeding motion is arrested during the crimping opertion and then operated again to bring a new section of wire into position for crimping. While the portion of wire to be crimped is held stationary between two operations of the feeding mechanism, some means are employedto bend the remainin portion with respect thereto, and form one o the loops at the end of each erimped section.

In the present invention, I utilize the reciprocating motion ofa milling machine, planer, or like apparatus as a source of power. The wire is. fed from a source of supply between a pair of rooved rollers mounted on a bracket. The bracket is in the arcof a circle due to oscillation of said shaft. Thence the wire passes between while the arms or bracket is swinging.

a pair of rollers, spaced from each other sui 'ciently to permit the wire to pass therebetween, but being arranged so as to ap 1y a pressure to the wire sufficient to ho d it The rollers are arranged in alinement with the center of the are through which the arm or bracket oscillates, and it will thus be apparent that the swinging of the arm from one side of the rollers to the "other, bends or loops the wire just above the rollers and causes a. crimp.- r

intermittent rotation of the rollers, the feed means being so arranged that it is at rest during the oscillation'of the crimping arm and in operation during intervals between the oscillation of the crimping arm.

The feeding means and crimping means are both driven from the reciprocating tool 'holder of a milling machine, planer, or like 'one of two oppositely dispose apparatus through the provision of novel means forming a part of this invention. ()sclllatlon of the shaft carrying the crimping arm is obtained through the provision of a rack bar, carried by the reciprocatin head, or stock, and engaging a gear whee on said shaft. The rack bar engages the teeth of the gear during only a portion of its reciprocation, producing the effect of a mutilated gear, and causing an interval between each oscillation of the shaft, the shaft oscillating while the gear and rack bar are in engagement, and remaining idle during. the remainder of the reciprocation of the rack bar.

The rollers are driven from the same source of power by means of a pawl and ratchet arrangement mounted on a shaft, and geared to the shaft carrying the rollers. The ratchet wheel is rov ided with ratchet teeth adapted to be a ternately en aged by spring pressedpawls or dogs, the awls being connected by links to a pivoted arm carrying a projection or lug. This arm is arranged in the path of a reciprocating element which is adapted to move the arm on its pivot and thus bring one of the dogs into engagement with the ratchet teeth through the link conneztion. These parts are so arranged that the intermittent rotation of the rollers takes place in the intervals between oscillations of the crimping mechanism.

In theaccompanying drawings, '1 have shown an advantageous embodiment of this invention.

The wire is fed through the machine by In this showing:

' F'gure 1 is a partial side elevation of the machine,

Fig. 4 is a detail perspective view of the reciprocating element that engages the gear 9, mounted on shaft 10. This shaft ers are provided with peripheral grooves 17 pivoted arm to operate the pawl and ratchet mechanism,

Fig, 5 is a detail perspective view of the CIlIIlPlIlg arm, I

Fig. 6 is adetail perspective view of takeup means arranged in the wire feed,

Fig. 7 is a detail sectional view showing the construction of the pawl and ratchet.

mechanism,

Fig. 8 is a sectional view through the ratchet wheel at right angles to Fig. 7,

Fig. 9.is a sectional View showing one of the crimping rolls and illustrating the positipIIi1 of the crimping armat-the extreme r1 t,

ig. 10 is a similar view, illustrating the position of the crimping arm at the extreme left, and,

, Fig. 11 is a sectional view ,through the crimping rolls at right angles to Fig. 9.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the numeral 1 designates the bed or carriage of themachine upon which is mounted a reciprocatir ig stock 2, driven in any suitable manner. .he specific driving means for the stock, form no part of the present invention, and a detailed description thereof, is omitted.

" The stock is provided with the usual tool post 3, having a vertical opening 4 therein, and provided with a set screw 5,'for'fastening a tool in the tool post 3. A rod 6' is mounted in the tool post, the rod being connected at one end to a. horizontal rack bar 7. A portion of'this rack bar is provided with rack teeth 8, which are adapted to mesh with ers 14 and 15 are arranged upon the opposite end of the crimping arm and these rollfor the rece tion of the wire (see Figs. 9

and 10). he mechanism 'just described produces an oscillating motion of the shaft 1( )-and the crimplng arm 11. The mechamsm is so arranged that the crimping arm oscillates substantially in a SBIIll-CII'ClB. The number'of teeth on the horizontal bar are so proportioned that the gear 9 is not oscillated throughout the entire reciprocatmg stroke of the bar, thus producing an interval between oscillations.

The mechanism for imparting intermittent rotary motion to thec'rim ping rollers is as follows Rollers 18 and 19 are mounted on shafts 21 and 22 journaled in the brackets 23 and justable bearings and may be regulatedthrough the provision of screw 25, and adjustable plate 26 (see Fig. 11). The shafts 21. and 22 are provided with gears-27 and 28, upon one end, and are driven from the main shaft 29, through a worm 30, and gears 31 and 32. The gear 31 is mounted on a stub shaft 33 and meshes with the worm. This gear is also in mesh'with gear 27 on shaft 21, driving the roll 18 in a clockwise direction. The gear 32 is mounted on a stub shaft 34, and meshes with the gear 31. This gear also engages gear 28 on shaft 22 to revolve the roll 19 in a counter clockwise direction.

Mounted on the main shaft 29, is a ratchet wheel 35 provided. with ratchet teeth 36. A pair, of arms 37 and 38. are arranged to revolve freely on the main shaft, the arms extendin over each side of the ratchet wheel. ogs or pawls 39 and 40 are pivoted to these arms, at 41 and 42, and are adapted to enga e the ratchet teeth on the ratchet wheel. hese pawls are held in engagement with the ratchet teeth by springs 43 and 44. As shown, the arms are connected to a pivoted arm 45, by means of links 46 and 47. The pivoted arm is mounted in a bracket 48, arranged on the bed of the machine, and as shown, is pivotedthereto at 49. A projecting head or lug 5O is carried by this pivoted arm. As the pivoted arm is swung upon its pivot, it causes rotation of the main shaft by bringingone of the pawls into engagement with the ratchet teeth, as illustrated in Fig. 7 As illustrated, in the full line position in this figure, the pivoted arm is in one position and is adapted to be moved to the position shown in dotted lines. When moved to the dotted line position, the links 46 and 47 cause the arms 37 and 38 to swing to the right and pawl 40 engages the ratchet teeth to revolve the shaft. When the pivoted arm 45 is returned to full line position, the links move the arms to the full line position andpawl 39 engages the ratchet teeth to revolvethe shaft.

The means for swinging the pivoted arm are as follows:

At the upper end of the rod 6, secured in the tool post, there'is provided a reciprocating bar 51, provided with lateral offsets 52.

provided for the purpose of adjusting the intervals between rotation of the rollers. Theprovision of the set screws is not essential and they may be eliminated and the pivoted arm actuated by contact between the lateral extensions 52 and 53, and the projection 50.

The wire is fed to the rollers from a reel 56, mounted in a frame '57, carried by a portion of the frame work of the machine. As shown, the frame is mounted on a verti-- cal post 58. The reel is held in bearings 59 and 60 which, as shown, are threaded to permit removal and insertion of the reels; Nuts 61 and 62 are provided to hold the bearings in position. Brake 63 is adapted to engage,

the end 64 of the spool on which the wire is mounted. This brake supplies the tension to the wire. The brake may be provided with a face of friction material 65. It is supported from the frame or bracket 57, by a spring arm 66, fastened to the bracket by nut and bolt 67. The pressure of the spring may be adjusted by threaded bolt 68, which bears against the spring arm. This adjustment permits variation of the tension on the wire. From the reel, the wire 69 is fed over a grooved roller 70, carried by take-up arm 71, which is pivotedin a bracket 72. The end of the arm is connected to a coiled spring 7 3, which is secured to the frame work of the machine at 74. When the crimping arm is in. position shown in Figs. 9 and 10 of the drawings, the wire is taut, but when it swings from one position to the other the wire becomes slack. Spring 73 pulling upon .the free end of the take-up arm causes the opposite end -to raise and take up the slack in the wire. I

A stop 71' is arranged near the take-up arm and is adapted to come in contact with the take-up arm before the crimpin arm 11 reaches the position illustrated in ig. 9 .or Fig. 10 of the drawings. This prevents further downward movement of the take-up arm and the pull on the wire causes Wire to be fed from the reel. The amount of wire so fed should be sufficient to form one crimp.

From the roller 70, the wire is carried between the grooved rollers on thecrimped arm and thence to the crimping rollers. An opening 75, is arranged in the frame work of the machine beneath the crimping rollers, to permit removal of the crimped wire from the machine. a Y 1 The operation of this device is as follows When' the machine is to be started, the wire is fed by handover the grooved take-up roller 70, etween the grooved rollers of the crimping arm and thence to the crimping rollers. The reciprocation of the stock 2 reciprocates rack bar 7 carried thereby, and oscillates gear 9. The oscillation of gear 9, causes the crimping arm 11 to swing in a substantial semicircle, or are of a cirole, from the position shown in Fig. 9, to

the position shown in Fig. 10, and vice versa. The crimping rollers are arranged substantially in alinement with shaft 10, and thus with the center of oscillation of the crimping arm. By reference to Figs. 9 and 10, it will be seen that this oscillation of the crimping arm bends the portion of wire just beyond thecrimping rollers to form a loop. As stated, the number of teeth upon the rack bar are so proportioned to the teeth upon the gear wheel 9, that the crimping arm is oscillated in a substantial semicircle. The rack bar does not engage the gear wheel throughout its entlre stroke,

1 thus producing an interval between two oscillations of shaft 10 and the crimping arm.

During the interval between two oscilla-. .tions, the crimping rollers are rotated to feed thecrimped wire a predetermined distance through the'machine so that the last crimp formed is always securely held between the rollers and the free portion of the wire just beyond the rollers is bent or tensions 52 and 53 on the reciprocating bar 51, engages the projection or lug 50, and rotates the shaft through the link connections. The provision of the take-up roller 70 is advantageous, as I find that otherwise the wire would become slack during the oscillation of the crimping arm. This slack is automatically taken up by the swinging of arm 71, due to the tension of springs-73,

In the drawings, I have shown the rollers 18 and 19 provided with roughened surfaces. The provision of such roughened rollers is for the purpose of flattening and roughening the straight sections of wire between two loops to produce a resistance wire in accordance with my co-pending application, Serial No. 345,972, filed December 19, 1919. When it is desired to produce the .115

same, and that various changes in the shape,

size, and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of my invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

Having thus described my invention, I

cl aim 1. A wire crimping machine, comprising 95 oiprocation of the stock, one of the lateral ex- "tently rotating said rollers.

' Wire.

a pair of rollers adapted to receive and hold the wire to be crimped, an oscillating crimping arm arranged near said rollers, said arm being provided with wire receiving means wherebv the Wire is bent to either side of the rollers and crimped, means for oscillating said arm, and means for intermit- 2. A wire crimping machine, comprising a pair of rollers'adapted to receive and hold the wire to be crimped, an oscillating crimp-.

ing arm arranged near said rollers, said arm being provided With wire receiving means whereby the wire is bent to either side of the rollers and crimped, a shaft on which said crimping arm is mounted, drivingmeans for said shaft, said means comprising a reciprocating rack bar, and a gear on said shaft meshing with said rack bar to 08011- late said crimping arm and bend said Wire to either sideof the rollers and crimp the 3. A wire crimping machine, comprising a pair of roughened rollers adapted to receive and hold the wire to be crimped, an oscillating crimping arm arranged near said rollers, means for oscillating said arm at intervals whereby the wire is bent to either side of the rollers and. crimped, said rollers being held together with sufficient pressure 1 to roughen the s1des of the wire, and means for intermittently rotatin said rollers during the intervals when sai arm is at rest.

\ arranged near said rollers, a shaft on which said cr1mp1ng arm 18 mounted, a gear carried fl. A wirecrimping machine, comprising a pair of rollers adapted to receive the wlre to be cr1mped, an oscillatmg crimping arm :to roughen the surface of the wire pass'mg between them, a main drive shaft, gearing connecting said rollers to the main drive shaft to drive said rollers in opposite directions, and means for intermittently rotatin said shaft.

6. wire crimping machine, comprising a pair of rollers adapted to receive the wire to be crimped, an oscillating, crimping arm arranged near said rollers, means foroseillating said arm at intervals, a main drive shaft, gearing connecting said rollers to the main drive shaft to drive said rollers in opposite directions, a ratchet wheel mounted on said shaft, pawls adapted to engage said ratchet wheel tointermittently rotate said shaft, and means for causing said pawls to engage said ratchet Wheel.

7. A wire crimping machine comprising a pair of rollers adapted to receive the Wire to be crimped', an oscillating crimping arm arranged near said rollers, means for oscillating said arm at intervals, a main drive shaft, earing connecting said rollers to the main rive shaft to drive said rollers in opposite directions, a ratchet wheel mounted on said shaft, pawls adapted to engage said ratchet wheel to intermittently rotate said shaft, pivoted arms on which said pawls are mounted, lin-ks connected to said arms, a pivoted arm to which said links are connected, and means for moving said arm to cause the pawls to alternately rotate the ratchet wheel. I

8. A wire crimping machine, comprising a pair of rollers adapted to receive the wire to be crimped, an oscillating crimping arm arranged near said rollers,means for oscillating said arm at intervals, and means for intermittently rotating saidrollers during the intervals between oscillation of said shaft, means for feeding wire to be crimped to said crimping arm andsaid rollers, and automatic tensioning, means connected to said feeding means. 1 v

9. A wire crimping machine, comprising a pair of roughened rollers adapted to re ceive the wire to be crlmp'ed, an oscillating crimping arm arranged. near saidrollers, means for oscillating said arm at intervals, means for intermittently rotating said rollers between the oscillation of said crimping arm to progressively feed the Wire to, the rollers, and tensionin means through which said wire passes, sai means hein adapted fed to the to automatically tension the wire rollers.

10. A wire crimping machine, comprising a pair of roughened rollers adapted to receive the-wire to be crimped, an oscillating crimping arm arranged 'near' said rollers,

'means'for oscillating said arm at intervals,

means for intermittently rotating said rollers between the oscillation of said. crimping arm to progressively feed the wire to the rollers, and tensioning means through which said wire passes, said means being adapted to automatically tension the wire fed to the rollers, the roughened'surface of the rollers being adapted to roughen the portion of the wire between the crim' ed ortions.

In testimon whereo I a x my signature in presenceo two witnesses.

. ALBERT H. JOHNSON. Witnesses:

CHAS. O. REED, J. MAYFIELD. 

